Delta frame buffers

ABSTRACT

Presented herein is a system and method for reducing the total size of the frame buffer portion of a decoding circuit. The reduction in size is possible because first portions of B-pictures are displayed while second portions occurring later in the raster order are decoded. The foregoing allows the second portions occurring later in the raster order to overwrite third portions of the picture that have already been displayed. As a result, the frame buffer for providing the frame from a decoder to the display engine need only store the portion that is being displayed and the portion that is being decoded.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[Not Applicable]

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[Not Applicable]

MICROFICHE/COPYRIGHT REFERENCE

[Not Applicable]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Standards developed by the Motion Picture Experts' Group (MPEG), such as MPEG-2, provide techniques of compressing digital video for storage and transmission. The MPEG-2 standard uses techniques that take advantage of both spatial and temporal redundancies in video frames to reduce the amount of memory and bandwidth required to store and transmit the video frames.

Spatial compression relies on similarities between adjacent pixels in plain areas of a picture and on dominant spatial frequencies in areas of patterning. Temporal redundancies are exploited by intercoding or transmitting only the differences between pictures. The MPEG-2 standard uses three different types of pictures. I-pictures are intra-coded pictures that need no additional information for decoding. P-pictures are forward predicted from an earlier picture, which can be either an I-picture, or another P-picture. B-pictures are bidirectionally predicted from earlier and/or later I or P-pictures.

The use of B-pictures present unique challenges for decoding pictures. B-pictures are data dependent on both past prediction pictures and future prediction pictures. As a result, the future prediction picture are required to be decoded prior to decoding the B-pictures. However, the B-pictures are displayed prior to the future prediction picture.

The foregoing is resolved by the use of frame buffers. The frame buffers store decoded pictures. Typically, three frame buffers are used for decoding and displaying the pictures. One of the frame buffers stores the decoded past prediction picture, and another one of the frame buffers stores the decoded future prediction picture. The third frame buffer is used to decode B-pictures. Data dependent pictures use the decoded past prediction picture and/or the future prediction picture for decoding.

The pictures stored in the frame buffers are displayed according to the presentation order. The B-pictures is displayed almost immediately after the B-picture is decoded and written to the frame buffer. The I-pictures and P-pictures are usually displayed after a time delay determined by the number of pictures that are data dependent on the I-pictures and P-pictures.

Standard Definition Television (SDTV) is a television standard for providing digital video. A typical SDTV frame has a 720×480 resolution. In the 4:2:0 type picture, there are one set of color pixels (Cr and Cb) for every four luminance pixels. The luminance pixels and each color pixel comprise one byte of data. Accordingly, 518,400 bytes are required to store an SDTV frame with 720×480 resolution. Approximately 1.55 MB are required to store three SDTV frames. High Definition Television (HDTV) is a scheme for providing high resolution video. One HDTV standard defines approximately frames with 1280×720 resolution. Such frames comprise 1.382 MB of data. Three such frames comprise approximately 4.146 MB of data. Another HDTV standard defines frames with 1920×1088 resolution. Such frames comprise approximately 3.133 MB of data. Three such frames comprise 9.4 MB of data.

Typical MPEG decoding circuits are implemented as a board level product with a combination of processors, firmware, dedicated hardware, and memory. The frame buffers are usually implemented in an off-the-shelf SD-RAM memory module or chip. Off-the-shelf SD-RAM memory modules or chips are sold in standard sizes which are typically in exponential powers of two, such as 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 MB, etc.

As noted above, three SDTV frames comprise 1.57 MB of data. A 2 MB chip is generally used for implementing the SDTV frame buffers. Also noted above, three 1280×720 HDTV frames comprise 4.146 MB of data. Generally, an 8 MB chip is used for implementing the 1280×720 HDTV frames. Also noted above, three 1920×1088 HDTV frames comprise approximately 9.4 MB of data. Generally, a 16 MB chip is used for implementing the 1920×1088 HDTV frame buffers.

The foregoing results in considerable memory wastage and also increases costs. Another approach is to place two frames on one chip, and a third frame on a smaller chip. The foregoing reduces memory wastage. However, the reduced memory wastage is offset by increased design complexity and the increased real estate requirements of fusing an additional chip. Furthermore, memory wastage is still considerable.

Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems with embodiments of the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A system, method, and apparatus for displaying frames is presented herein. In one embodiment, there is presented a method for displaying frames. The method includes displaying a first portion of a frame and writing a second portion of the frame while displaying the first portion of the frame.

In another embodiment, there is presented a circuit for displaying frames. The circuit includes a memory, a display engine, and a controller. The memory stores a first portion of a frame. The display engine displays the first portion of the frame. The controller writes a second portion of the frame in the memory, while the display engine displays the first portion.

In another embodiment, there is presented an integrated circuit for storing decoded frames. The integrated circuit includes a first prediction frame buffer, a second prediction frame buffer, and a delta frame buffer. The first prediction frame buffer stores a first frame. The second prediction frame buffer stores a second frame. The delta frame buffer for stores a portion of a third frame.

These and other advantages and novel features of the embodiments in the present application will be more fully understood from the following description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a block diagram of video data encoded in accordance with the MPEG-2 standard;

FIG. 1B is an exemplary block diagram of pictures;

FIG. 1C is a block diagram of pictures in decode order;

FIG. 1D is a block diagram of the MPEG hierarchy

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary circuit for decoding and presenting MPEG-2 encoded video data;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of exemplary frame buffers in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4A is a timing diagram describing the decoding times of an exemplary set of pictures;

FIG. 4B is a timing diagram describing the display time of the set of pictures in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5A is a block diagram of an exemplary progressive HDTV frame;

FIG. 5B is a block diagram of an exemplary interlaced HDTV frame; and

FIG. 6 is a timing diagram describing the contents of the frame buffers in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 1A, there is illustrated a block diagram of video data encoded in accordance with the MPEG-2 standard. The video data comprises a series of frames 105. The frames 105 comprise any number of rows of luminence pixels Y, red color pixels Cr, and blue color pixels Cb, wherein each pixel stores a one byte value. In general, the number of rows in the frame 105 are defined according to a predetermined standard. Exemplary standards can include, for example, HDTV, SDTV, NTSC, or PAL.

For example, the Standard Definition Television (SDTV) is a television standard for providing digital video. A typical SDTV frame has a 720×480 resolution. In the 4:2:0 type picture, there are one set of color pixels (Cr and Cb) for every four luminance pixels. Accordingly, each frame 105 comprises a 720×480 array of luminance pixels Y, a 360×240 array of red color pixels Cr, and a 360×240 array of blue color pixels Cb. Accordingly, a 720×480 SDTV frame comprises 518,400 bytes of data.

High Definition Television (HDTV) is a scheme for providing high resolution video. One HDTV standard defines frames with 1280×720 resolution. Such frames comprise a 1280×720 array of luminance pixels Y, a 640×360 array of red color pixels Cr, a 640×360 array of blue color pixels Cb, or approximately 1.382 MB of data. Another HDTV standard defines frames with 1920×1088 resolution. Such frames comprise a 1920×1088 array of luminance pixels Y, a 544×960 array of red color pixels Cr, a 544×960 array of blue color pixels Cb, or approximately 3.13 MB of data.

Video data can typically include up to 30 or more HDTV frames per second. Accordingly, transmission and storage of the video data without compression requires excessive memory and bandwidth. However, the MPEG-2 standard detailed in ITU-T Recommendation H.222.0 (1995)|ISO/IEC 13818-1:1996, In formation Technology—Generic Coding of Moving Pictures and Associated Audio Information Systems, incorporated herein by reference, significantly reduces the amount of memory and bandwidth required to store and transmit video data.

Pursuant to MPEG-2, the frames 105(1) . . . 105(n) are encoded using algorithms taking advantage of both spatial redundancy and/or temporal redundancy. Temporal encoding takes advantage of redundancies between successive frames. A frame can be represented by an offset or a difference frame and/or a displacement with respect to another frame. The encoded frames are known as pictures. Pursuant to MPEG-2, the luminance array Y of each frame 105(1) . . . 105(n) is divided into 16×16 pixel sections, while the array of red color pixels Cr and the array of blue color pixels Cb are divided into 8×8 pixel sections. Each 16×16 pixel section is associated with an 8×8 pixel section of red color pixels Cr and an 8×8 pixel section of blue color pixels Cb, forming a macroblock 108. A picture comprises the macroblocks 108 representing the pixel sections forming the frame 105.

Referring now to FIG. 1B, there is illustrated an exemplary block diagram of pictures I₀, B₁, B₂, P₃, B₄, B₅, and P₆. The data dependence of each picture is illustrated by the arrows. For example, picture B₂ is dependent on reference pictures I₀, and P₃. Pictures coded using temporal redundancy with respect to either exclusively earlier or later pictures of the video sequence are known as predicted pictures (or P-pictures), for example picture P₃. Pictures coded using temporal redundancy with respect to earlier and later pictures of the video sequence are known as bi-directional pictures (or B-pictures), for example, pictures B₁, B₂. Pictures not coded using temporal redundancy are known as I-pictures, for example I₀. In MPEG-2, I and P-pictures are reference pictures.

The foregoing data dependency among the pictures requires decoding of certain pictures prior to others. Additionally, the use of later pictures as reference pictures for previous pictures, requires that the later picture is decoded prior to the previous picture. As a result, the pictures cannot be decoded in temporal order. Accordingly, the pictures are transmitted in data dependent order. Referring now to FIG. 1C, there is illustrated a block diagram of the pictures in data dependent order.

The pictures are further divided into groups known as groups of pictures (GOP). Referring now to FIG. 1D, there is illustrated a block diagram of the MPEG hierarchy. The pictures of a GOP are encoded together in a data structure comprising a picture parameter set, which indicates the beginning of a GOP, 240 a and a GOP Payload 240 b. The GOP Payload 240 b stores each of the pictures in the GOP in data dependent order. GOPs are further grouped together to form a video sequence 250. The video data 100 is represented by the video sequence 250.

The video sequence 250 can be transmitted to a receiver for decoding and presentation. The data compression achieved allows for transport of the video sequence 250 over conventional communication channels such as cable, satellite, or the internet. Transmission of the video sequence 250 involves packetization and multiplexing layers, resulting in a transport stream, for transport over the communication channel.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a block diagram of an exemplary circuit for decoding the compressed video data described in FIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Data is received and stored in a presentation buffer 332 within SDRAM 330. The data can be received from either a communication channel or from a local memory, such as a hard disc or a DVD.

The data output from the presentation buffer 332 is then passed to a data transport processor 335. The data transport processor 335 demultiplexes the transport stream into packetized elementary stream constituents, and passes the audio transport stream to an audio decoder 360 and the video transport stream to a video transport decoder 340 and then to a MPEG video decoder 345. The audio data is then sent to the output blocks, and the video is sent to a display engine 350.

The display engine 350 scales the video picture, renders the graphics, and constructs the complete display. Once the display is ready to be presented, it is passed to a video encoder 355 where it is converted to analog video using an internal digital to analog converter (DAC). The digital audio is converted to analog in an audio digital to analog (DAC) 365.

The decoder 345 decodes at least one picture, B₁, B₂, Pa₃, B₄, B₅, P₆, . . . , during each frame display period. Due to the presence of the B-pictures, B₁, B₂, the decoder 345 decodes the pictures, I₀, B₁, B₂, P₃, B₄, B₅, P₆, . . . , in an order that is different from the display order. The decoder 345 decodes each of the reference pictures, e.g., I₀, P₃, prior to each picture that is predicted from the reference picture. For example, the decoder 345 decodes I₀, B₁, B₂, P₃, in the order, I₀, P₃, B₁, and B₂. After decoding I₀ and P₃, the decoder 345 applies the offsets and displacements stored in B₁ and B₂, to decoded I₀ and P₃, to decode B₁ and B₂. In order to apply the offset contained in B₁ and B₂, to decoded I₀ and P₃, the decoder 345 stores decoded I₀ and P₃ in memory known as frame buffers 370.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is illustrated a block diagram of exemplary frame buffers 270 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The frame buffers 270 comprise two prediction frame buffers 270 a, 270 b, and a delta buffer 270 c. The prediction frame buffers 270 a, 270 b comprise enough memory for storing a single decoded picture/frame.

In the case where the frames comprise 1920×1088 HDTV frames 105, the prediction frame buffers 270 a, 270 b comprise 3.13 MB of memory, for example. The delta buffer 270 c comprises a proportion of the memory required to store a decoded picture/frame. For example, in the case where the frames 105 comprise 1920×1088 HDTV frames 105, the delta buffer 270 c comprises a proportion of 3.13 MB. In an exemplary case, the delta buffer 270 c comprises half the memory required to store a decoded picture/frame. In the case where the frame 105 comprises 1920×1088 HDTV frames 105, the delta buffer 270 c comprises 1.57 MB, for example. Due to the smaller size of the delta buffer 270 c as compared to the prediction frame buffers 270 a, 270 b, the frame buffers 270 can be implemented on an 8 MB DRAM or SDRAM memory module.

Copy for 1280×720, 1.382 frame 0.691 MB.

In the case where the frames comprise 1280×720 HDTV frames 105, the prediction frame buffers 270 a, 270 b comprise 1.382 MB of memory, for example. The delta buffer 270 c comprises a proportion of the memory required to store a decoded picture/frame. For example, in the case where the frames 105 comprise 1280×720 HDTV frames 105, the delta buffer 270 c comprises a proportion of 1.382 MB. In an exemplary case, the delta buffer 270 c comprises half the memory required to store a decoded picture/frame. In the case where the frame 105 comprises 1280×720 HDTV frames 105, the delta buffer 270 c comprises 0.691 MB, for example. Due to the smaller size of the delta buffer 270 c as compared to the prediction frame buffers 270 a, 270 b, the frame buffers 270 can be implemented on a 4 MB DRAM or SDRAM memory module.

The delta buffer 270 c comprises two regions 270(1)c, and 270(2)c. As will be explained below, while a portion of a frame 105 is written to region 270(2)c by the decoder 245, another portion of the frame 105 can be read from region 270(1)c, and vice versa. Accordingly, the delta buffer 270 c provides decoded B-pictures from the decoder 245 to the display engine 250, while including less memory than required to store a decoded frame 105.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is illustrated a timing diagram describing the decoding and presentation of frames in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4A describes the decoding times of the pictures, I₀, B₁, B₂, P₃, B₄, B₅, P₆. One picture is decoded at each frame display period, although decoding the picture may require substantially less time than one frame display period. As is noted above, wherein the pictures comprise B-pictures, the decoding order is different from the presentation order. In the present exemplary case, the decoding order for pictures I₀, B₁, B₂, P₃, B₄, B_(s), P₆ is I₀, P₃, B₁, B₂, P₆, B₄, B₅. The decoded pictures I₀, P₃ are needed to decode pictures B₁, B₂. Therefore, the decoder 245 decodes I0 and P3, the decoder 245 writes I₀ and P₃ into the prediction frame buffers 270 a and 270 b. When decoding pictures B₁ and B₂, the decoder 245 refers to the prediction frame buffers 270 a, 270 b storing I₀ and P₃.

FIG. 4B illustrates the presentation times of the pictures, I₀, B₁, B₂, P₃, B₄, B₅, P₆. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As can be seen, there is a delay between presentation time and decode time. The delay between presentation time and the decode time includes two components—a decoding lag, and a reference delay. The decoding lag is based on an inherent delay required for decoding at least a portion of the picture prior to presentation time. The reference delay is due to the number of past bi-directional pictures which are predicted from the frames. For example, the presentation of picture P₃ is delayed for two frame periods for decoding past pictures B₁, B₂.

In MPEG-2, B-pictures are not used for prediction of any other pictures. Accordingly, B-pictures are not associated with any reference delay. Therefore, B-pictures can be displayed immediately after decoding. Furthermore, it is noted that the display engine 250 scans the picture in raster order. In raster order, the top lines are displayed first and the bottom lines are displayed last for progressive displays. For interlaced displays, the odd number lines are displayed first followed by the even numbered lines. Therefore, the B-picture can be provided to the display engine 250 in portions. The foregoing reduces the decoding delay. The foregoing also allows for a reduction in the size of the delta frame buffer 270 c for storing a B-frame, as compared to the prediction frame buffers 270 a, 270 b.

Referring now to FIG. 5A, there is illustrated a block diagram of an exemplary decoded progressive frame 105. The progressive frame 105 comprises an n×m array of luminance pixels Y, an n/2×m/2 array of red color pixels Cr, and an n/2×m/2 array of blue color pixels Cb. Pursuant to the MPEG-2 specification, the array of luminance pixels Y is divided into 16×16 arrays. Each 16×16 array of luminance pixels is associated with an 8×8 array of red color pixels Cr, and an 8×8 array of blue color pixels. The 16×16 array of luminance pixels, and the 8×8 arrays of color pixels, Cr, and Cb are collectively known as macroblocks 128. Accordingly, an n×m progressive frame 105 is represented by n/16×m/16 macroblocks 108.

The display engine 250 sequentially displays the rows of pixels of the progressive frame 105 starting from the top row and moving down to the bottom row. One frame period comprises the time period beginning at the time the top row is displayed and terminating at the time the bottom row is displayed for a progressive frame.

For frames 105 decoded from I-pictures or P-pictures, the decoder 245 decodes the entire frame 105 prior to presentation of any portion of the frame 105. However, for B-pictures, the display engine 250 displays a portion of the frame 105, while the decoder 245 decodes another portion of the frame 105 that is later in the raster order.

Additionally, the decoder 245 can overwrite a previously displayed portion of the frame 105 in the delta buffer 270 c. For example, the frame 105 can be divided into portions 105 a, 105 b, 105 c, and 105 d. After the decoder 245 decodes portion 105 a and writes portion 105 a into the top region of 270(1)c, the display engine 250 displays portion 105 a.

While the display engine 250 displays portion 105 a, the decoder can decode portion 105 b and write portion 105 b to bottom region 270(2)c. After the display engine 250 displays portion 105 a from region 270(1)c, the display engine 250 displays portion 105 b from region 270(2)c. While the display engine 250 displays portion 105 b from region 270(2)c, the decoder 245 can decode portion 105 c and overwrite portion 105 a in region 270(1)c. After the decoder 245 decodes portion 105 c and writes portion 105 c into the top region of 270(1)c, the display engine 250 displays portion 105 c. While the display engine 250 displays portion 105 c, the decoder can decode portion 105 d and overwrite portion 105 b in region 270(2)c. After the display engine 250 displays portion 105 c from region 270(1)c, the display engine 250 displays portion 105 d from region 270(2)c.

For a progressive frame 105, the portions 105 a, 105 b, 105 c, and 105 d can include, for example, the first n/64 rows of macroblocks 108, the second n/64 rows of macroblocks, the third n/64 rows of macroblocks, and all of the macroblocks after the third n/64 rows of macroblocks, respectively.

Referring now to FIG. 5B, there is illustrated an exemplary interlaced frame 105. The interlaced frame 105 comprises a top field 105(0) and a bottom field 105(1). For an interlaced frame 105, the raster order starts with even numbered lines from top to bottom, followed by odd numbered lines from top to bottom. The top field 105(0) corresponds to the even numbered lines, while the bottom field 105(1) corresponds to the odd numbered lines.

The top field 105(0) and bottom field 105(1) each comprise an n/2×m array of luminance pixels Y, an n/4×m/2 array of red color pixels Cr, and an n/4×m/2 array of blue color pixels Cb. Additionally, pursuant to the MPEG-2 standard, the arrays of luminance pixels Y are divided into 16×16 arrays of luminance pixels, and the red and blue color pixels are divided into 8×8 arrays. Each 16×16 array of luminance pixels is associated with an 8×8 array of red color pixels and blue color pixels, forming an macroblock 108. Accordingly, the top field 105(0) and the bottom field 105(1) comprise n/32×m/16 macroblocks 108.

In the case of an interlaced frame, the first portion 105 a can comprise the first n/64 rows of macroblocks 108 in the top field 105(0). The second portion 105 b can comprises the remaining macroblocks 108 of the top field 105(0). The third portion 105 c can comprise the first n/64 rows of macroblocks 108 in the bottom field 105(1). The fourth portion 105 b can comprises the remaining macroblocks 108 of the bottom field 105(0).

Referring now to FIG. 6, there is illustrated a timing diagram describing the contents of the frame buffers during the decoding and display of the pictures I₀, B₁, B₂, P₃, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The decoding and display of the pictures will be described with reference to FIG. 2. Although the decoding and display of the picture sequence I₀, B₁, B₂, P₃, is illustrated, other picture sequences are possible. In general, the decoder 245 decodes one picture during each frame period, although the decoder 245 may finish decoding the picture long before the end of the frame period. Additionally, the decoding times for pictures vary, with I-pictures taking the longest time, and B-pictures taking the shortest time. Statistically, it has been observed that I-picture require four times the processing for decoding as compared to B-pictures.

At t=0, 1 the decoder 245 decodes and write I₀ and P₃, in prediction frame buffers 270 a, 270 b, respectively. At t=1.25 to 2.25, the display engine 250 displays I₀. At t=2.00 to 2.25, the decoder 245 decodes and stores first portion 105 a of decoded picture B₁ in the top region of delta buffer 270(1)c.

At t=2.25 to 2.50, the decoder 245 decodes and stores the second portion 105 b of decoded picture B₁ in the bottom region of delta buffer 270(2)c, while the display engine 250 displays the first portion 105 a of decoded picture B₁ in the top region of delta buffer 270(1)c.

At t=2.50 to 2.75, the decoder 245 decodes and stores the third portion 105 c of decoded picture B₁ in the top region of delta buffer 270(1)c (overwriting the first portion 105 a of B₁), while the display engine 250 displays the second portion 105 b of decoded picture B₁ in the bottom region of delta buffer 270(2)c.

At t=2.75 to 3.00, the decoder 245 decodes (from I₀ and P₃ stored in prediction buffers 270 a, 270 b) and stores the fourth portion 105 d of decoded picture B₁ in the bottom region of delta buffer 270(2)c (overwriting the second portion 105 b of B₁), while the display engine 250 displays the third portion 105 c of decoded picture B₁ in the top region of delta buffer 270(1)c.

At t=3.00 to 3.25, the decoder 245 decodes (from I₀ and P₃ stored in prediction buffers 270 a, 270 b) and stores the first portion 105 a of decoded picture B₂ in the top region of delta buffer 270(1)c, (overwriting the third portion 105 a of B₁), while the display engine 250 displays the fourth portion 105 d of decoded picture B₁ in the bottom region of delta buffer 270(2)c.

At t=3.25 to 3.5, the decoder 245 decodes (from I₀ and P₃ stored in prediction buffers 270 a, 270 b) and stores the second portion 105 a of decoded picture B₂ in the bottom region of delta buffer 270(2)c, (overwriting the fourth portion 105 d of B₁), while the display engine 250 displays the first portion 105 a of decoded picture B₂ in the top region of delta buffer 270(1)c.

At t=3.50 to 3.75, the decoder 245 decodes (from I₀ and P₃ stored in prediction buffers 270 a, 270 b) and stores the third portion 105 c of decoded picture B₂ in the top region of delta buffer 270(1)c (overwriting the first portion 105 a of B₂), while the display engine 250 displays the second portion 105 b of decoded picture B₂ in the bottom region of delta buffer 270(2)c.

At t=3.75 to 4.00, the decoder 245 decodes (from I₀ and P₃ stored in prediction buffers 270 a, 270 b) and stores the fourth portion 105 d of decoded picture B₂ in the bottom region of delta buffer 270(2)c (overwriting the second portion 105 b of B₂), while the display engine 250 displays the third portion 105 c of decoded picture B₂ in the top region of delta buffer 270(1)c.

At t=4.00 to 5.00, the decoder 245 decodes and stores picture P₆ in prediction buffer 270 a (overwriting I₀). From t=4.00 to 4.25, the display engine 250 displays the last portion of 105 d of decoded picture B₂ in the bottom region of the delay buffer 270(2)c.

The foregoing allows for reducing the total size of the frame buffer portion of a decoding circuit. The reduction in size is possible because first portions of B-pictures are displayed while second portions occurring later in the raster order are decoded. The foregoing allows the second portions occurring later in the raster order to overwrite the portions of the picture that have already been displayed. As a result, the frame buffer for providing the frame from a decoder to the display engine need only store the portion that is being displayed and the portion that is being decoded. However, in some embodiments, additional regions may be added and the regions can be written to or read in a round-robin fashion.

As a result of the reduction in the total size of the frame buffers 270, the requisite frame buffers 270 for decoding MPEG-2 encoded 720×480 SDTV frames can be implemented on a 2 MB memory module. The requisite frame buffers 270 for decoding MPEG-2 encoded 1280×720 HDTV frames can be implemented on a 4 MB memory module. The requisite frame buffers 270 for decoding MPEG-2 encoded 1920×1088 HDTV frames can be implemented on an 8 MB memory module.

One embodiment of the present invention may be implemented as a board level product, as a single chip, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or with varying levels integrated on a single chip with other portions of the system as separate components, such as the frame buffers 270 implemented on an appropriate size memory module. The degree of integration of the monitoring system will primarily be determined by speed and cost considerations. Because of the sophisticated nature of modern processors, it is possible to utilize a commercially available processor, which may be implemented external to an ASIC implementation of the present system. Alternatively, if the processor is available as an ASIC core or logic block, then the commercially available processor can be implemented as part of an ASIC device with various functions implemented as firmware.

While the invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. 

1-17. (canceled)
 18. A method, comprising: decoding a first portion of a frame; writing the first portion of the frame to a memory; and displaying the first portion of the frame while decoding a second portion of the frame and writing the second portion of the frame to the memory.
 19. The method of claim 18, comprising: displaying the second portion of the frame while decoding a third portion of the frame; and writing the third portion of the frame to the memory over the first portion of the frame.
 20. The method of claim 19, comprising: displaying the third portion of the frame while decoding a forth portion of the frame; and writing the forth portion of the frame to the memory over the second portion of the frame.
 21. The method of claim 18, wherein decoding the first and second portions of the frame comprises bidirectionally predicting the first and second portions of the frame based on other frames in a group of pictures.
 22. The method of claim 18, wherein the frame comprises a progressive frame.
 23. The method of claim 18, wherein: the memory comprises a prediction frame buffer and a delta frame buffer; and writing the first portion of the frame to the memory comprises writing the first portion of the frame to the delta frame buffer.
 24. The method of claim 23, wherein: the delta frame buffer is about half the size of the prediction frame buffer; writing the first portion of the frame to the delta frame buffer comprises writing the first portion of the frame to a first region of the delta frame buffer; and writing the second portion of the frame to the delta frame buffer comprises writing the second portion of the frame to a second region of the delta frame buffer.
 25. A circuit, comprising: a memory comprising a prediction frame buffer and a delta frame buffer; a decoder that decodes a first portion of a frame; a controller that writes the first portion of the frame to the delta frame buffer; and a display engine that displays the first portion of the frame while the decoder decodes a second portion of the frame.
 26. The circuit of claim 25, wherein: while the display engine displays the first portion of the frame, the controller writes the second portion of the frame to the delta frame buffer.
 27. The circuit of claim 25, wherein: the display engine displays the second portion of the frame while the decoder decodes a third portion of the frame; and the controller writes the third portion of the frame to the delta frame buffer over the first portion of the frame.
 28. The circuit of claim 27, wherein: the display engine displays the third portion of the frame while the decoder decodes a forth portion of the frame; and the controller writes the forth portion of the frame to the delta frame buffer over the second portion of the frame.
 29. The circuit of claim 25, wherein the decoder bidirectionally predicts the first and second portions of the frame based on other frames in a group of pictures.
 30. The circuit of claim 25, wherein the frame comprises a progressive frame.
 31. The circuit of claim 25, wherein: the delta frame buffer is about half the size of the prediction frame buffer; the controller writes the first portion of the frame to a first region of the delta frame buffer; and the controller writes the second portion of the frame to a second region of the delta frame buffer.
 32. A method, comprising: decoding a first portion of a first field; writing the first portion of the first field to a memory; and displaying the first portion of the first field while decoding a second portion of the first field and writing the second portion of the first field to the memory.
 33. The method of claim 32, comprising: displaying the second portion of the first field while decoding a first portion of a second field; and writing the first portion of the second field to the memory over the first portion of the first field.
 34. The method of claim 33, comprising: displaying the first portion of the second field while decoding a second portion of the second field; and writing the second portion of the second field to the memory over the second portion of the first field.
 35. The method of claim 32, wherein decoding the first and second portions of the first field comprises bidirectionally predicting the first and second portions of the first field based on other fields in a group of pictures.
 36. The method of claim 32, wherein the first field comprises a field of a progressive frame.
 37. The method of claim 32, wherein: the memory comprises a prediction frame buffer and a delta frame buffer; and writing the first portion of the first field to the memory comprises writing the first portion of the first field to the delta frame buffer.
 38. The method of claim 37, wherein: the delta frame buffer is about half the size of the prediction frame buffer; writing the first portion of the first field to the delta frame buffer comprises writing the first portion of the first field to a first region of the delta frame buffer; and writing the second portion of the first field to the delta frame buffer comprises writing the second portion of the first field to a second region of the delta frame buffer. 